Peter Capaldi: New series of Doctor Who has epic sweep

Peter Capaldi says the next series of 'Doctor Who' has an "epic sweep" to it thanks to the monsters he will fight.

The 57-year-old actor is currently shooting his second run as the Twelfth Doctor and says the new and old villains he must defeat are integral to the overall storyline of the season.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said: "There is an epic sweep to this season and I think the villains and monsters reflect that. Great new ones, brilliant old ones, and some very scary creatures looming in stories with real emotional ambition."

Series 9 opens with two-part adventure 'The Magician's Apprentice' and 'The Witch's Familiar' in which Michelle Gomez returns as Missy - the new female incarnation of the Doctor's infamous foe The Master - and Capaldi insists she will be even more devious than she was last year.

He said: "In the hands of Michelle Gomez, Missy is more magnificently bad than ever before."

Teasing the storyline of the opening episodes and how they will impact the rest of the run, he added: "It places the Doctor in a conflict that is central to his being, as well as containing some subtle tributes to the 60s, and truly wonderful guest performances ... The Doctor's throwing himself into life with a newfound hunger for adventure. He's in pursuit of joy and grabbing every thrill that he can along the way. But I sense him running from something, that even he does not yet understand."

'Doctor Who' Series 9 - which also stars Jenna-Louise Coleman return as companion Clara Oswald - will air this autumn on BBC One.